Ondrej Debrecéni

The Behaviour of the Pigs Housed in Hot Climatic Conditions

The effect of high temperature on the behaviour of growing-finishing pigs was studied. The pigs were housed in a climate controlled chamber, the air temperature was kept constant at 30°C and the relative humidity was 32.5% during the whole 3 months. Aggressive behaviour and daily activities of the pigs were recorded during the light hours, from 6:00 till 18:00. Detailed observations showed that during the experiment, the pigs were most of the time lying (72%, P<0.001). Pigs spent more time lying on the floor without bedding (86.65%, P<0.01) compared to floor with bedding (13.35%, P<0.001). The second activity, which occurred most after lying was eating (16%, P<0.001) then standing (10%, P<0.001). From all observation activities, the least amount of time the pigs were sitting (1%) and moving (1%). Drinking and social contacts – aggression were less frequent. After the each week, a significant decrease in aggression was recorded (P<0.001), an aggressive contacts occurred mainly during the eating and drinking. The pigs were active with peaks in the morning and afternoon. This study confirms that the high temperature influences the behaviour of the animals; the pigs are not very active, the most of the time they are lying on the cool places without bedding.

Relationships between production, quality of milk and udder health status of ewes during machine milking.

The chosen traits of production, composition and quality of milk (analysis of 255 milk samples) were evaluated in ewes on the 1st to 3rd lactation (n=64) during milking period (4 control measurements – CM) and in the machine milking conditions. Udder health status of the ewes (UHS; n=255) was evaluated by means of 5 point linear scale subjectively at the same time. The ewes of three pure breeds (Tsigai – T, Improved Valachian – IV and Lacaune – LC) and two crossbreds (TxLC and IVxLC) were involved in the experiment. The machine milked milk (milk production) at CM (0.462 kg), the proportion of machine stripped milk (25.19 %) and also UHS (1.65) were significantly affected by the genotype group (P 0.05 respectively).

THE ANALYSIS OF THE CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND PHYSICAL-TECHNOLOGICAL QUALITY OF PORK AFTER THE USING DIET WITH THE ADDITION OF ORGANIC CHROMIUM AND SELENIUM

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of selenium and combination of selenium with chromium in the feed mixture on carcass and meat traits of finishing pigs. A total 90 castrates (Large White) were divided into the three groups. The control group received basal diet (BD) without selenium and chromium; the experimental group (Se) 0.3 mg Se*kg-1 in the form of selenomethionine was added to the basal diet. Experimental group (SeCr) was fed basal diet with added selenomethionine plus chromium nicotinate (0.3 mg Se*kg-1 , 0.75 mg Cr*kg-1 ). We found that added selenomethionine to the feeding ration increased carcass length (P < 0.001). Technological parameters were affected by selenium: reduced pH24 of ham and drip loss of muscle longissimus thoracic after 7-day post mortem (P ≤ 0.01), and increased cooking loss in muscle abductor. Combination of selenium and chromium in the feeding ration significantly increased firmness of meat (Warner - Bratzler) in each muscle (P < 0.001). Cholesterol in muscles was lower (P < 0.01) in animals supplemented with a combination of selenomethionine and chromium. These results suggest that supplementation of organic selenium and chromium nicotinate in the feed had significant effect on carcass and meat quality of pigs.

Comparison the physicochemical quality indicators of Musculus Longissimus Dorsi from Mangalitsa Breed and their crossbreeds

In recent years, there has been a current trend in the market of pork to create products based on traditional, regional specialities, where is used technology such as drying, smoking and fermentation of products. These products require a specific quality of meat from pure-bred indigenous breeds or their crossbreeds with emphasis on dry matter content, intramuscular fat content in meat and fatty acid composition with higher share of unsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids. Due to this fact, indigenous breed such as the Mangalitsa has received attention from the aspect of high meat quality and meat products compared to pig meat breeds. The aim of study was to compare the meat quality of Musculus longissimus dorsi from Mangalitsa breed, the crossbreeds Mangalitsa x Duroc and the pig meat breed Slovak Large White. The experimental material comprised of 28 pcs of pigs, which were reared in the same intensive conditions and they were fed ad libitum by complete feed mixtures for fatteners. The fattening period lasted from 30 kg to 100 kg of body weight. In the presented study was found that the crossbreeds Mangalitsa x Duroc had lighter colour of meat and the Mangalitsa had darker colour than Slovak Large White (P < 0.01). From the point of texture of meat, it was found stiffer meat from Slovak Large White and more tender meat from crossbreeds Mangalitsa x Duroc compared to meat of Mangalitsa (P < 0.01). The crossbreeds Mangalitsa x Duroc had the highest intramuscular fat content and cholesterol content in meat (P < 0.01). The intramuscular fat content and cholesterol content was the lowest in Slovak Large White (P < 0.01). The results indicate that utilization of Mangalitsa breed for crossing with pig meat breeds can improve quality meat traits in their crossbreeds, which are requiring for production of special meat products.

Differentiation of stress load resistant calves by the help of insulin-like growth factor–I (IGF–I) in serum

Animals do not respond uniformly to stress load. It leads to energy losses and body damage during stressor exposure. One of the hormones activated by stress, providing the repair of the body during and after load, is growth hormone. It acts directly on cells, but mainly through insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), which protects cells from apoptosis and promotes their growth and proliferation. Changes in concentrations of IGF-I in the circulation during psychical load at individual excitatory types of calves (EHb+ highly reactive, EHb° medium reactive and EHb- low reactive) are not known. Calves type EHb+ and EHb° are more resistant to stress than EHbtype calves. The aim of our study was to measure the levels of IGF-I immediately after the application of psychical form of load with the calves differentiated according to different types of excitation. Differentiation of excitatory types of calves was done after 20 minute habituation test. Habituation test was performed in habituation chamber. Immediately before and after habituation calves were taken blood from jugular vein by syringe. Blood sampling was allowed to clot in a refrigerator at 4 °C and after 4 to 6 hours, it was centrifuged at 1200 rpm for 10 min. Then serum was drawn in from the syringe and frozen in aliquots volume in eppendorf vessel until further processing at -20 °C. Serum samples of calves were treated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA - test. The highest levels of IGF-I in all types of calves were in the resting blood collection. Within of individual type of excitation in a concentration IGF-I before and after load significant difference was not found. After application of psychical form of stress the concentration of IGF-I in blood of the calves declined.

Effect Of Chromium Nicotinate On Oxidative Stability, Chemical Composition And Meat Quality Of Growing-Finishing Pigs

The effect of different organic sources of Cr on growth, feed efficiency and carcass value is known but there is a lack of information between chromium nicotinate (CrNic) and pork quality. Therefore, purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of CrNic on chemical composition, quality and oxidative stability of pork meat. In the study, pigs of Large White breed (40 pcs) were used. The pigs were divided into two groups, namely the control and the experimental of 20 pcs with equal number of barrows and gilts. The pigs were fed the same diet which consisted of three feed mixtures applied at the different growth phases, from 30 - 45 kg OS-03, 45 - 70 kg OS-04 and 70 - 100 kg OS-05. The pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water. The diet of experimental group was supplemented with 0.75 mg.kg -1 CrNic in the form of chromium-inactivated yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The fattening period in pigs lasted from 30 to 100 kg. The chromium supplementation led to a significantly higher content of chromium in longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) of experimental pigs. In addition, the results showed a statistically significant difference ( p ≤0.05) in retention of chromium in the LT, monounsaturated and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content in experimental group compared with control. Moreover, there was highly significant ( p £0.05) difference in essential fatty acids, as well as in oxidative stability in 7 days, among the groups. The highly significant differences were also observed among sexes, namely in total water, protein and intramuscular fat contents, colour CIE b* in both times, and oxidative stability. However, physical-technological parameters (pH, drip loss, shear force and meat colour) were not affected when pigs were fed the supplement. On the whole, the positive effect of chromium nicotinate in most of investigated parameters may be beneficial not only for pork industry but also for consumers. Normal 0 21 false false false CS JA X-NONE

The influence of floor quality on dairy cow behaviour and their body cleanliness.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of floor quality on the behaviour and cleanliness of the diary cow‘s body. The analysis results show that cows housed in the section with the separated manure solids spent more time lying (41.47%) and also laid less in the corridor manure (0.91%) than the cows in the section with separated manure solids and the rubber mats where they were laying generally less (35.71%), they spent more time lying in the corridor manure (1.55%) and in terms of preference of lying area the cows clearly preferred the separated manure solids (25.8%). Based on observations we can say that cows housed in sections of slurry solid phase were cleaner (average 6.13 points) than cows in the section with the rubber and a separated manure (averagely 7.28 points). Nowadays the free housing systems with different types of litter and boxes are frequently used, while the proper littering influences the lying preferences of an animal. In practice, for the dairy cows the deepened lying boxes littered with natural materials such as sawdust, shavings, straw, dried manure and sand boxes or elevated boxes covered with a synthetic material, mattresses or mats are used.

The modeling of economic efficiency in suckler cows herds.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of selected indicators in suckler cows breeds, their model quantification and comparison of optimal (recommended) parameters with achieved real natural-economic results in the monitored file of farms (n=5) in 2009. The average annual total costs in the monitored farms in 2009 were € 769 (2.1 €.FD-1) per a suckler cow and the average total costs for rearing of heifer till to calving at € 1,362 per heifer. At the model natality of 65 calves, we estimated the total revenues for calves1000 (calves with the average daily weight gain 1,000 g.pc -1) at about € 29,700 and for calves781 (calves with the average daily weight gain 781 g. pc -1) € 24,024 (€ -5,676). For maximum model natality of 95 calves have been estimated revenues for calves1000 at about € 49,500 and for calves781 € 40,039 (€ -9,461). When the actually achieved natality in monitored farms is at average 78.98% (80%), we can estimate the average revenues for 60 realized calves1000 at € 39,600 and by the calves781 at € 32,031 (€ -7,569). Economic loss due to shortening the length of calves rearing for a month represents a decrease of potential revenues per a calf on average € 72 respectively € 56 (€ -16) per month reducing the length of calves rearing. For really achieved average daily weight gain of calves 781 g.pc-1, we can estimate the potential revenues per a weaned calf at € 534 respectively for average daily weight gain 1,300 g.pc-1, revenues approximately € 833 (€ -299). In terms of length of cow productive age, we estimated that if we reject cow after the third lactation, depreciation will be at € 246 per year (0.67 €.FD-1) respectively after eleven lactation at € 67 (0.18 €.FD-1) per year.